Imaginations Run Wild

On March 17, four teams representing Alexandria School District 206 schools participated in the Minnesota Regional Destination ImagiNation (DI) competition in Moorhead. All four teams placed in the top three in their problem/division level.

DI is a creative problem-solving competition in which student teams solve open-ended challenges and present their solutions at tournaments. Teams choose a team challenge and work for eight to 16 weeks devising solutions.

The following three teams will advance to the state tournament to be held April 14 in Champlin Park.

• “The Spectacular Stars” won first place in the fine arts challenge, “Coming Attractions.” The challenge required students to create a movie trailer skit with theatrical and special effects and a foreign character. Members include Voyager Elementary School 4th graders Annie Bowser, Sidney Drew, Meredith Kleve, Kaylee Meyer and Anna Zwilling. Heather Kleve manages the team.

• “T&T Talented & Terrific” received first place in the structural challenge, “Hold It!” Students were required to design, build and test a structure made entirely out of balsa wood and glue to hold weight and contain golf balls. The structure had to include a delivery device and the students had to create and present an original story about a captivator. Team members include Lincoln Elementary School (LES) 4th graders Camille Hegstad, Shea Issendorf, Olivia Maday and Makenna Stock. Stephanie Hegstad is the team manager.

• The “Straight A’s” team earned second place in the fine arts challenge “Coming Attractions.” Team members include LES 4th graders Dane Galloway, Josh Helmbrecht, Parker Jabas, Graham Peterson and Isaac Siegel. Jen Jabas is the team manager.

Another team, “Fab 5,” from LES received third place in the structural challenge “Hold It!” Managed by Susan Anderson, members include Nathan Halstead, Cameron Hochsprung, Tyler Jabas, Aaron Jost and Zach Kent.

The Alexandria DI program is organized by District 206 Gifted and Talented teachers and program coordinators, Dave Harstad and Pam Pearson in partnership with Community Education.

Tags: destination imagination, voyager elementary school, lincoln elementary school, life, school, features